New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-25
MONEY MADE OFT OF MISERY.
SCENES IN A PAWNBRoKER's SHOP.
STEPS or THE DowxHILL RoAD-woMEN SELDOM

STEPS or THE DowNHILL RoAD-wOMEN SELDOM
REDErM-MUCH PROFIT FOR LITTLE OUTLAY.
A pawnbrOker was busily engaged yesterday AFTER
looking through his books in his shop on inc
Roweiy, near Icster-st. one Of Inspector Byrncs
detectives stood al his elbow, looking over the book
also The detective looking for some stolen
property, which he had been informed had been
planted" in this place. While they were running
over the Items there sharp ring Of the office
dJor-bclI and a woman walked slowly 10 the counter
Her clothes faded black and torn In places
There nothing but sadness in the p&ched INES
in her face. and her cmaclatcd body and trembling
hands told story Of woe and misery, louder IMAM
words She started back a pace two, as tbs pawn
broker stepped nmbly In front of her from behind
his desk, a. II half inclined to get away from tho
place altogether There were tears IN her eyes when
She went back 10 the counter and she turned her
faco partly around from the pawnbrOkcr, 10 hide her
erection There Is lntlo sentiment ia the pawn
brokers' heart and he tapped ncrvou>y on the counter
waiting for the woman to or do something. Aner
a moments mental struggle. she took heavy gold
ring from her finger and pushed 1t toward the money
lender. II was her wedding ring. The pawnbroker
examined the ring closely weighed 1t and tested lis
quality with acid Being satisfied that 1t was gcnn-
inc he lad go and ticket on the counter He did
not a X the wouans name; she had been TO see him
before. She cutchcd the money quickly and hurried
away trying valnly keep back the sobs that welled
up into her throat
"Wcll that's the end of her." sad tho pawnbrof"r'
as the smile Of shylock spread over his face and
raised wrinkles his bald head
"What do you meant" he asked.
ait mean, that I've lost her trade and will probably
never sec her again. No matter how hard the luck
a woman is In. the last thing TO 20 Is the wedding
ring Her husband may have been worthless
scoundlel, but she viii stick TO the ring until there
Is nothing else to pawn. pawnbrohcr T. constant
witness Of the decline Of the human race o. at eaSt,
a certain portion OF II. Watching the slow march
from wealth to poverty is hls daily amusement.
Take the case Of This woman. 1t Is typical one.
She came here first about two years ago She was
then gay, well di c,scd, and had diamonds In E"r
ear, aud on her fingers She throw oil a diamond
ring with ca. clcss air and s+acl for oan explain
Ing that 1t was OILY temporary affair and that ia"
would bc In ia a few days and redeem IT, she oaW'
back again. not to redeem but TO pledge more Of her
property sho kept coming from time t. umc until
now wien all her je~clry and clothing Of any value
l. in pawn. / have watched Ills thing th,u>snd, Of
times ~ NY forty years experience, ana - an Old
story"
what lead, people to pawn their property ~
in ninety -uno out Of one hundred ca~cs rum 3ui
oriuin. II not for these Things pIvn"roi err
would Walk the whole year round and have litic Fat
on their ribs. The nquor DEALER /, the lavubrohcr
lest friend loau rarely cNorcus onrthrl the
marketable value OF tHc goods it l. rare ming Tor
a woman To redeem goods. Men -omciine- % "AcH
they -ci! Ito uc,et 20 some friend. Who rrccm- the
eooi bccau~c he usually gets lartaln some people
necessity for them to do 80 bur It conc from al
eccentric mental condition, Sucn a" J., found 'n a
hlcptomaIiac. and they cannot hrp IT,
"Do you have many visit from tLio'o' With stolen
goods -" .........,.,.. ...,,,....., Wa ,,..o
our eye orcu all tie time for stolen o", =" II f. u"t
pleasant to have thc reputation oi htrr"g .icn'c
No - al adjunct 81 the drtrstitr Ollie" .iu
81 utc,c. II la, tccn d,nc - often that thlr,c-
ft.I. u A D.